3. Who won the US Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1930?
4. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1930?
5. In 1930, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
6. What famous food did Ruth Wakefield of Whitman, Massachusetts, create in 1930?
7. What was the highest-grossing film of 1930?
8. What cartoon caricature of a Jazz Age flapper debuted in 1930?
9. Who was the President of the United States in 1930?
10. What became the tallest building in the world on May 27, 1930?
11. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1930?
12. Lamont Cranston, a “wealthy young man-about-town,” is also known as what masked pulp magazine character?
13. What is The Shadow’s catchphrase?
14. What famous cartoon dog was introduced in 1930?
15. How many people lived in the United States in 1930?
16. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1930?
17. How many people lived in the World in 1930?
18. Selling for ~ $120.00, what did the Galvin Corporation introduce for car buyers?
19. Who did the Chicago Crime Commission declare as “Public Enemy Number 1”?
20. What did Clyde Tombaugh discover in 1930?
21. What Marx Brothers movie debuted on August 23, 1930, starring Groucho as Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding?
22. Who won the 1930 World Series?
23. This snack started with banana creme in 1930 and is still popular today…
24. Considered the messiah by many Rastafarians, who became emperor of Ethiopia on November 2, 1930?
25. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1930?
26. What was the 3M company introduced in 1930?
27. What comic strip debuted on January 13, 1930, and ran until July 29, 1995.
28. How much did an average Ford Model A cost in 1930?
29. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1930?
30. What classic sandwich was invented in South Philadelphia in 1930?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who is generally credited with making the first steak sandwich?
2. Who was the Pope in 1930?
3. R.H. Naylor provided what for the United Kingdom’s Sunday Express, on August 24, that became a staple in newspapers worldwide.
4. What real-life human was the cartoon character Betty Boop based on?
5. Who was the American Vice-President in 1930?
6. On April 18, 1930, what broadcast company said “Good evening. Today is Good Friday. There is no news.”
7. What team won the FIFA World Cup in 1930?
8. What did Warner Brothers collectively call their cartoon shorts in 1930?
9. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1930?
10. What set of strict guidelines on treating sex, crime, religion, and violence in films for the next 40 years began in 1930?
The Answers:
30 Trivia Answers for 1930 History
1. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1930? Stein Song (University of Maine) by Rudy Vallee
2. What was the average household income in 1930?
$4,887.01
3. Who won the US Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing in 1930?
Gallant Fox
4. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1930? Cimarron by Edna Ferber
5. In 1930, what was the average life expectancy in the United States?
Men – 58.1 years, Women – 61.6 years.
6. What famous food did Ruth Wakefield of Whitman, Massachusetts, create in 1930?
The Chocolate Chip Cookie (aka “Toll House Cookie”)
7. What was the highest-grossing film of 1930? Tom Sawyer
8. What cartoon caricature of a Jazz Age flapper debuted in 1930?
Betty Boop
9. Who was the President of the United States in 1930?
Herbert Hoover (March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933)
10. What became the tallest building in the world on May 27, 1930?
The Chrysler Building in New York City. The Empire State Building became the tallest building on April 11, 1931.
11. Who won the Stanley Cup in 1930?
In 1930, The Montreal Canadiens won over the Boston Bruins (2 games to none)
12. Lamont Cranston, a “wealthy young man-about-town,” is also known as what masked pulp magazine character?
The Shadow
13. What is The Shadow’s catchphrase?
(Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?) The Shadow knows.
14. What famous cartoon dog was introduced in 1930?
Pluto (Disney)
15. How many people lived in the United States in 1930?
The population was an estimated 123,076,741 people.
16. How much did a Loaf of Bread cost in 1930?
9 cents
17. How many people lived in the World in 1930?
The estimated world population in 1930 was 2,070,000,000 people.
18. Selling for ~ $120.00, what did the Galvin Corporation introduce for car buyers?
The first commercial car radio (Motorola model 5T71).
19. Who did the Chicago Crime Commission declare as “Public Enemy Number 1”?
Al Capone
20. What did Clyde Tombaugh discover in 1930?
Pluto (the dwarf planet)
21. What Marx Brothers movie debuted on August 23, 1930, starring Groucho as Captain Jeffrey T. Spaulding? Animal Crackers
22. Who won the 1930 World Series?
In 1930, The Philadelphia Athletics won, beating the St. Louis Cardinals (4 games to 2)
23. This snack started with banana creme in 1930 and is still popular today…
Twinkies
24. Considered the messiah by many Rastafarians, who became emperor of Ethiopia on November 2, 1930?
Haile Selassie
25. Who was the Time Magazine Man of the Year in 1930?
Mahatma Gandhi
26. What was the 3M company introduced in 1930?
Scotch Tape
27. What comic strip debuted on January 13, 1930, and ran until July 29, 1995. Mickey Mouse
28. How much did an average Ford Model A cost in 1930?
$495 (Town Car $1400)
29. How much did a gallon of gas cost in 1930?
$0.20 per gallon
30. What classic sandwich was invented in South Philadelphia in 1930?
The steak sandwich. Cheesesteaks came into being shortly after.
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Who is generally credited with making the first steak sandwich?
Philadelphia hot dog vendor Pat Olivieri.
2. Who was the Pope in 1930?
Pope Pius XI, February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939
3. R.H. Naylor provided what for the United Kingdom’s Sunday Express, on August 24, that became a staple in newspapers worldwide.
The Horoscope was for newly born Princess Margaret. It became daily later in 1930.
4. What real-life human was the cartoon character Betty Boop based on?
Helen Kane, who took a similar routine from Baby Esther, a child entertainer.
5. Who was the American Vice-President in 1930?
Charles Curtis (March 4, 1929 – March 4, 1933)
6. On April 18, 1930, what broadcast company said “Good evening. Today is Good Friday. There is no news.”
BBC Radio. Then they played piano music for 15 minutes.
7. What team won the FIFA World Cup in 1930?
Uruguay
8. What did Warner Brothers collectively call their cartoon shorts in 1930?
Looney Tunes. Merrie Melodies came out in 1931.
9. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1930?
Gallant Fox
10. What set of strict guidelines on treating sex, crime, religion, and violence in films for the next 40 years began in 1930?
The Hays Code (Motion Picture Production Code), although it wasn’t strictly enforced until 1934.
Shirley Temple On The Good Ship Lollipop The first song by the child star for her 1934 film BRIGHT EYES, This song would go on to become Miss Temple’s trademark. Miss temple would go on to be featured and star in many films, but eventually, leave show-business and pursue a successful career in The United Nations and The State Department. She is now retired.
Fred Astaire Cheek To Cheek
Two Legends – One Song. Irving Berlin wrote Cheek to Cheek for Astaire’s Top Hat (#7 below), which co-starred his most well-known partner Ginger Rodgers.
Astaire was not as well known for singing capabilities so much as his incredible dancing ability. Debbie Reynolds tells of him spending hours and hours practicing with the choreographer Hermes Pan. Mr. Astaire was a consummate hard-working professional who strived for perfection through hard work.
Glen Gray Blue Moon
Written by Rogers and Hart, this one song that tends to make a regular comeback, originally recorded by Glenn Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra. The Marcels made it a number on the Billboard charts in 1961. Gray was a saxophonist that fronted the orchestra. His name appeared on most of the recordings from 1934 on.
Cole Porter You’re The Top
Originally sung by Ethel Merman in the Porter musical Anything Goes. This recording was made by the composer, lyricist himself, Cole Porter. Mr. Porter was born in 1891 and is a legend of the Broadway stage. A musical film of his life was made in 2004 and titled De-Lovely (another song from Anything Goes). The movie starred Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd.
Eddie Duchin I Won’t Dance
This song was written by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and Otto Harbach for a 1934 musical called Three Sisters which opened in London and flopped. When it was decided to film the Broadway show Roberta the song was re-worked by Kern and Harbach and included in the movie.
Ethel Merman I Get a Kick Out of You
This is another hit out of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. The musical legends of both Porter and Merman would grow out of this musical as they both become stars on the musical sky. One thing that should be mentioned here is that there is a line from the song that would be cut and reinstated over the years as the harmfulness of drugs was discovered and being true to a creator’s original work was argued out. The Line is “I get no kick from cocaine, even if I took one little sniff it would bore me incredibly too. But I get a kick out of you.”
Fats Waller I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
With music by Fred E. Ahlert and lyrics by Joe Young, this song would become part of what is known as The Great American Song Book. The book itself doesn’t exist but it’s meaning is clear. If a song has lasted for a certain number of years and is retained in people’s memory, then it is part of the book. Many songs from different periods of American Music still come up today, some of them in commercial jingles, others as part of a movie score. This song haunts our collective memory, and I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter is included in these songs. The Song was recorded several times throughout the 20th century by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, and Barry Manilow.
Richard Himber and his Orchestra It Was Just One Of Those Things
Written by Cole Porter for the musical Jubilee, this song would take on a life of its own as it was recorded over the years by several artists. Twice by Doris Day for two of her films, Lullaby of Broadway and Young At Heart. Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby and Lena Horne recorded it. It was used in JD Salinger’s novel as the narrator says of the song even the “stinking band” in the hotel lounge “couldn’t ruin it entirely.” A line from the song, “goodbye farewell amen,” was used as the title for the last episode of the hit series MASH. John Barrowman of TV’s Torchwood has recorded the song for the twenty-first century.
The Dorsey Brothers The Lullaby of Broadway
Harry Warren wrote the music for this song and lyrics by Al Dubin, the song made its first appearance in the film, Gold Deggirs of 1935. That same year it was also used as background music in a scene from the Bette Davis movie Special Agent. It would eventually win the 1936 Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song would grow in popularity and would have a film named after it in 1951 starring Doris Day. It would be used in a Merrie Melody cartoon and would become a pivotal song in the plot of the Broadway version of 42nd St. sung by Jerry Orbach, Lumiaire of the film Beauty and The Beast.
Louis Armstrong You Are My Lucky Star
Recorded by Louis Armstrong, the song would go on to be recorded in the film Broadway Melody of 1936. But the song would become an important part of MGM musicals when Debbie Reynolds sang it in what some call the most important movie musical of all time, Singin In The Rain.
Top Artists and Songs of 1935
Al Bowlly and the Ray Noble Orchestra
Blue Moon
Ballew Smith
Roll Along, Prairie Moon
Benny Goodman
Blue Moon
King Porter Stomp
Bing Crosby
I Wished The Moon
It’s Easy To Remember
Red Sails in the Sunset
Soon
Bob Crosby and his Orchestra
In a Little Gypsy’s Tea Room
Boswell Sisters
The Object of my Affection
Cab Calloway
Keep That Hi-De-Hi in Your Soul
Carmen Miranda
Sonho de Papel
Cole Porter
You’re The Top
Duke Ellington
In a Sentimental Mood
Eddie Duchin
Cheek To Cheek
I Won’t Dance
Lovely To Look At
You Are My Lucky Star
Ethel Merman
I Get A Kick Out Of You
Fats Waller
A Little Bit Independent
I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter
Lulu’s Back In Town
Truckin’
Fred Astaire
Cheek To Cheek
No Strings
The Piccolino
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails
Gene Autry
Ole Faithful
Tumbling Tumbleweeds
George Formby
Fanlight Fanny
Glen Gray
Blue Moon
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Guy Lombardo
I’m Sittin’ High on a Hill Top
Red Sails In The Sunset
What’s The Reason (I’m Not Pleasin’ You)
Irene Dunne
Lovely To Look at
Jimmy Lunceford
Rhythm Is Our Business
Leo Reisman
I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin’
It Ain’t Neccessarily So
Little Jack Little
I’m In The Mood For Love
Louis Armstrong
I’m In The Mood For Love
You Are My Lucky Star
Nelson Eddie
Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life
Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra
And Then Some
Patsy Montana and the Prairie Ramblers
I WAnt To Be A Cowboy’s Sweetheart
Ray Noble
Isle of Capri
Let’s Swing It
Paris in the Spring
Richard Himber and his Orchestra
Just One Of Those Things
Riley-Farley Orchestra
The Music Goes Round and Round
Ruth Etting
Life Is A song
Shirley Temple
On The Good Ship Lollipop
Sleepy John Estes Stop That Thing
The Carter Family
Can The Circle Be Broken (Bye and Bye)
The Dorsey Brothers
Chasing Shadows
Lullaby of Broadway
Tom Coakley and his Palace Hotel Orchestra
East of the Sun, West of the Moon
January 26 – Indian National Congress Declared Independence: The Indian National Congress proclaimed January 26 as Independence Day, resolving for Purna Swaraj (complete independence) from British rule.
February 18 – Discovery of Pluto: Astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, expanding our understanding of the solar system.
March 12 – Gandhi’s Salt March Began: Mahatma Gandhi commenced the 241-mile Salt March to Dandi, protesting the British monopoly on salt in India, a pivotal event in the Indian independence movement.
April 22 – London Naval Treaty Signed: The United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States signed the London Naval Treaty, aiming to regulate submarine warfare and limit naval shipbuilding.
May 6 – Salmas Earthquake in Iran: A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Iran and southeastern Turkey, resulting in significant casualties and destruction.
May 15 – First Female Flight Attendant Took to the Skies: Ellen Church became the world’s first female flight attendant, working on a Boeing Air Transport flight, marking a milestone in aviation history.
May 24 – Amy Johnson’s Solo Flight to Australia: British aviator Amy Johnson landed in Darwin, becoming the first woman to fly solo from England to Australia, covering approximately 11,000 miles.
June 17 – Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act Enacted: President Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act into law, raising U.S. tariffs on imported goods, which many believe exacerbated the Great Depression.
July 7 – Construction of Hoover Dam Began: Work commenced on the Hoover Dam (initially known as Boulder Dam) on the Colorado River, a significant engineering project aimed at flood control and electricity generation.
July 13 – Inaugural FIFA World Cup Kicked Off: The first FIFA World Cup tournament began in Montevideo, Uruguay, marking the start of the world’s premier international football competition.
July 30 – Uruguay Won First FIFA World Cup: Uruguay defeated Argentina 4-2 in the final match, becoming the first nation to win the FIFA World Cup.
August 7 – R. B. Bennett Became Canadian Prime Minister: Richard Bedford Bennett took office as the 11th Prime Minister of Canada, leading the country during the early years of the Great Depression.
September 6 – Argentine Coup d’État: A military coup in Argentina overthrew President Hipólito Yrigoyen, leading to a period of military rule under José Félix Uriburu.
September 14 – Nazi Party Gained Seats in German Reichstag: In federal elections, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (Nazi Party) increased its representation, becoming the second-largest party in the Reichstag.
October 5 – British Airship R101 Crashed: The world’s largest airship at the time, R101, crashed in France during its maiden overseas voyage, resulting in 48 fatalities.
November 2 – Haile Selassie Crowned Emperor of Ethiopia: Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie I, initiating a reign that would last until 1974.
November 25 – Izu Peninsula Earthquake in Japan: A significant earthquake struck the Izu Peninsula, causing extensive damage and over 200 deaths.
December 2 – Great Depression Public Works Program Proposed: President Herbert Hoover addressed Congress, requesting a $150 million public works program to stimulate the economy during the Great Depression.
December 19 – Mount Merapi Erupted in Indonesia: The eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java led to the destruction of numerous villages and the loss of approximately 1,300 lives.
December 24 – First Demonstration of Cloud Projection: Inventor Harry Grindell Matthews showcased a device in London capable of projecting images onto clouds, an early exploration into large-scale image projection.
December 29 – Allama Iqbal Proposed the Idea of Pakistan: In his presidential address at the Allahabad conference, poet and philosopher Allama Iqbal outlined the vision for a separate Muslim state, later becoming Pakistan.
Great Depression Deepened Globally: The global economic downturn intensified, leading to widespread unemployment, poverty, and political instability in numerous countries.
Rise of Totalitarian Movements: Fascism, Nazism, and other authoritarian ideologies gained momentum across Europe, with leaders like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini consolidating power.
Technicolor Film Technology Advanced: Films such as King of Jazz showcased the growing use of Technicolor, revolutionizing the motion picture industry with vivid color imagery.
Advances in Aviation: Charles Lindbergh and other aviation pioneers broke records for speed and distance, symbolizing progress in air travel and technology.
Josephine Baker, Joan Blondell, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, Dolores Del Rio, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow, Myrna Loy, Barbara Stanwyck, Thelma Todd
Miss America
none
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
Entertainment History: The Academy Awards
The 2nd Academy Awards occurred on April 3, 1930, at an extravagant dinner at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. William C. DeMille, older brother of the famed director Cecil B. DeMille, acted as the evening’s host. This event marked the first time the eligibility period was extended to more than one year, covering films released between August 1, 1928, and July 31, 1929. Interestingly, the ceremony was private, attended mostly by industry insiders, and not broadcast on radio or television. The Best Picture winner was The Broadway Melody, and it also was the first sound film to win the top honor. One trivia nugget—there was no Best Actor or Best Actress category; instead, winners received an “Academy Award for Best Acting.”
The 3rd Academy Awards were held on November 5, 1930, at the iconic Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Conrad Nagel, a prominent actor of that era, hosted the ceremony. The eligibility year for the films was from August 1, 1929, to July 31, 1930, which was a departure from the previous year’s extended eligibility period. This year featured the first-ever awards for Best Sound Recording and Best Art Direction, adding some new categories. All Quiet on the Western Front took home the Best Picture award and was also notable for its anti-war narrative. Another fascinating piece of trivia: The awards ceremony was the shortest in history, lasting just 15 minutes. There were no acceptance speeches, and winners were announced in advance, stripping the event of some of its modern-day suspense.
Firsts, Inventions, and Wonders
Cartoon hottie Betty Boop first appeared in 1930, in Dizzy Dishes, although she was more like a poodle. She became more human-like in 1932.
The first appearance of comic strip Blondie by Chic Young.
January 13 – The first Mickey Mouse comic strip was published.
The radio mystery program The Shadow aired for the first time.
Scotch cellophane tape was invented in 1930 by 3M engineer Richard Drew. The ‘3M’ is the original company name – Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company.
Twinkies, a “Golden Sponge Cake with Creamy Filling,” was invented.
MGM’s first color (Technicolor) sound cartoon, Fiddlesticks, was made by Ub Iwerks.
KFC, also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, was founded by Colonel Harland David Sanders. He was not a military colonel.
Clarence Birdseye was granted a US Patent (#1773079A) for his method of quick freezing food.
Clyde Tombaugh was photographing the sky and comparing the pictures. He noticed a faint dot that had moved. The young man from Kansas discovered Pluto, named by 11-year-old Venetia Burney. Percival Lowell thought something was up between Neptune and Uranus and had been looking for the planet since 1905.
The Irish Free State Hospitals’ Sweepstakes (Irish Sweepstakes) was founded.
Paul and Joseph Galvin and William Lear created the first car radio called a “motorized victrola,” which they shortened to Motorola.
In 1924, Kleenex was invented and advertised as a cold cream remover. It was rebranded in 1930 after many customers reported using the product primarily for blowing their noses.
DuPont invented Neoprene (a versatile rubber).
Spaulding developed the Kro-Flight golf ball, the first wound ball with a liquid center. The ball increased distance and control for golfers.
The Biggest Pop Artists of 1930 include
Arden-Ohman Orchestra, Earl Burtnett & His Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra, Duke Ellington, Libby Holman, Isham Jones and His Orchestra, Wayne King and His Orchestra, Ted Lewis and His Band, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Red Nichols & His Five Pennies, Regent Club Orchestra, Harry Richman, Leo Reisman Orchestra, Jacques Renard and His Orchestra, Nat Shilkret & the Victor Orchestra, Rudy Vallée & His Connecticut Yankees, Ted Wallace & His Campus Boys, Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians, Ted Weems and His Orchestra, Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra
Charts based on Billboard music charts.
Strange News
On April 18, 1930, the BBC announced, “There is no news today,” and played piano music instead.
A mysterious man visited Edgar Allen Poe’s grave every year from 1930-1998 and offered a toast with a glass of Cognac.
Elm Farm Ollie was the first cow to fly in a fixed-wing aircraft and the first cow to be milked in an airplane.
War Plan Red was a hypothetical plan for the U.S. invasion of Canada approved in 1930 by the American Secretary of War.
George Stathakis died after going over Niagara Falls in a barrel, suffocating after becoming trapped behind a water curtain upon impact. His 150-year-old turtle, which came with him, survived.
The Four identical Genain Quadruplet sisters born in 1930 all developed schizophrenia, suggesting a vital genetic component to schizophrenia.
Pop Culture Facts & History
In 1930, Babe Ruth made more than the President ($80,000 vs $75,000); when asked about it, he responded, “I know, but I had a better year.”
The first commercially released “Looney Tunes” cartoon was 1930’s Sinkin’ in the Bathtub. Looney Tunes was created to promote WB’s music catalog in 1930. That’s why it’s “Tunes” and not “Toons.”
The Motion Pictures Production “Hayes Code” was instituted, imposing guidelines on treating sex, crime, religion, and violence in films. It was in place until 1968.
Agatha Christie, G. K. Chesterton, and other British mystery writers formed the Detection Club. Members swore to not use “Divine Revelation, Feminine Intuition, Mumbo Jumbo, Jeggiry-Pokery, Coincidence, or Act of God” in stories. Founded in 1930, the club still exists.
Sir Frank Whittle (RAF) invented the modern jet engine, using a gas turbine to provide forward thrust.
In 1919, Michael Keogh stopped an angry mob of men from killing two right-wing political agents they were beating up. In 1930, at a Nuremberg rally, Keogh recognized one of the agents he had saved. It was Adolf Hitler.
The world’s “longest-running laboratory experiment” demonstrates the fluidity and high viscosity of pitch, a derivative of tar once used for waterproofing boats.” In 1930, pitch was left in a glass funnel to drip out and has only dropped nine times: about once every ten years.
In 1930, there were only 14 Shih Tzu’s left in the world due to restrictions in dog breeding. All modern-day Shih Tzu’s are direct descendants of those 14 dogs.
In North America and most other places, Hamsters are descended from one pregnant female, captured in Syria in 1930.
The Bank of Italy (founded in San Francisco, California, in 1904) was renamed Bank of America.
The Hotel Pennsylvania was built by the Pennsylvania Railroad and operated by Ellsworth Statler. It opened on January 25, 1919, and has used the Phone Number Pennsylvania 6-5000 (212-736-5000) since ~1930. It was also the title of a hit song for Glenn Miller.
Nobel Prize Winners
Physics – Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman
Chemistry – Hans Fischer
Physiology or Medicine – Karl Landsteiner
Literature – Sinclair Lewis
Peace – Nathan Söderblom
The Number One Hits of 1930
December 26, 1929 – January 10, 1930
Paul Whiteman – Great Day
January 11, 1930 – January 31, 1930
Roy Ingraham – Chant Of The Jungle
February 1, 1930 – February 7, 1930
Ted Weems – The Man From The South
February 8, 1930 – February 28, 1930
Benny Meroff – Happy Days Are Here Again
March 1, 1930 – March 7, 1930
Harry Richman – Puttin’ On The Ritz
March 8, 1930 – March 21, 1930
Ben Selvin – Happy Days Are Here Again
March 22, 1930 – May 30, 1930
Rudy Vallee – Stein Song (University of Maine)
May 31, 1930 – June 13, 1930 Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra – When It’s Springtime In The Rockies
June 14, 1930 – July 4, 1930
Ben Selvin – When It’s Springtime In The Rockies
July 5, 1930 – August 22, 1930
Nat Shilkret – Dancing With Tears In My Eyes
August 23, 1930 – September 19, 1930
Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians – Little White Lies
September 20, 1930 – October 17, 1930
McKinney’s Cotton Pickers – If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
October 18, 1930 – November 28, 1930
Paul Whiteman – Body And Soul
November 29, 1930 – December 19, 1930
Duke Ellington – Three Little Words
December 30, 1930 – January 16, 1931
Guy Lombardo – You’re Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1930
Angel Pavement by J. B. Priestley Chances by A. Hamilton Gibbs Cimarron by Edna Ferber The Door by Mary Roberts Rinehart Exile by Warwick Deeping The Hidden Staircase (Nancy Drew #2) by Carolyn Keene The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper Rogue Herries by Hugh Walpole The Secret of the Old Clock (Nancy Drew #1) by Carolyn Keene Twenty-Four Hours by Louis Bromfield The Woman of Andros by Thornton Wilder Years of Grace by Margaret Ayer Barnes Young Man of Manhattan by Katharine Brush
FIFA World Cup (Soccer)
Uruguay
This was the first ‘World Cup.’ It was started because the United States, the 1932 Olympic Host, would not feature the game in the 1932 Olympiad.
1930 United States Census
Total US Population: 123,202,624
1. New York, New York – 6,930,446
2. Chicago, Illinois – 3,376,438
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – 1,950,961
4. Detroit, Michigan – 1,568,662
5. Los Angeles, California – 1,238,048
6. Cleveland, Ohio – 900,429
7. St. Louis, Missouri – 821,960
8. Baltimore, Maryland – 804,874
9. Boston, Massachusetts – 781,188
10. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – 669,817
Sports
World Series Champions: Philadelphia Athletics
Stanley Cup Champs: Montreal Canadiens
U.S. Open Golf: Bobby Jones
U.S. Tennis (Men/Ladies): John H. Doeg/Betty Nuthall
Wimbledon (Men/Women): Bill Tilden/Helen Moody
NCAA Football Champions: Alabama & Notre Dame
Kentucky Derby Winner: Gallant Fox
Boston Marathon Winner: Clarence DeMar Time: 2:34:48
Outstanding Production:
All Quiet on the Western Front – Carl Laemmle Jr., for Universal Studios (WINNER)
The Big House – Irving Thalberg for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Disraeli – Jack L. Warner and Darryl F. Zanuck for Warner Bros.
The Divorcee – Robert Z. Leonard for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The Love Parade – Ernst Lubitsch for Paramount Pictures
Best Director:
Lewis Milestone – All Quiet on the Western Front (WINNER)
Clarence Brown – Anna Christie
Robert Z. Leonard – The Divorcee
King Vidor – Hallelujah
Ernst Lubitsch – The Love Parade
Clarence Brown – Romance
Best Actor:
George Arliss – Disraeli as Benjamin Disraeli (WINNER)
George Arliss – The Green Goddess
Wallace Beery – The Big House
Maurice Chevalier – The Big Pond and The Love Parade
Ronald Colman – Bulldog Drummond and Condemned
Lawrence Tibbett – The Rogue Song
Best Actress:
Norma Shearer – The Divorcee as Jerry Martin (WINNER)
Nancy Carroll – The Devil’s Holiday
Ruth Chatterton – Sarah and Son
Greta Garbo – Anna Christie and Romance
Norma Shearer – Their Own Desire
Gloria Swanson – The Trespasser
Best Writing:
The Big House – Frances Marion (WINNER)
All Quiet on the Western Front – George Abbott, Maxwell Anderson, and Del Andrews, based on the novel by Erich Maria Remarque
Disraeli – Julien Josephson, based on the play by Louis N. Parker
The Divorcee – John Meehan, based on the novel Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
Street of Chance – Howard Estabrook, based on a story by Oliver H. P. Garrett
Best Sound Recording:
The Big House – Douglas Shearer (WINNER)
The Case of Sergeant Grischa – John E. Tribby
The Love Parade – Franklin Hansen
Raffles – Oscar Lagerstrom
Song of the Flame – George Groves
Best Art Direction:
King of Jazz – Herman Rosse (WINNER)
Bulldog Drummond – William Cameron Menzies
The Love Parade – Hans Dreier
Sally – Jack Okey
The Vagabond King – Hans Dreier
Best Cinematography:
With Byrd at the South Pole – Joseph T. Rucker and Willard Van der Veer (WINNER)
All Quiet on the Western Front – Arthur Edeson
Anna Christie – William Daniels
Hell’s Angels – Tony Gaudio and Harry Perry
The Love Parade – Victor Milner
The first FIFA World Cup, held in 1930 (July 13, 1930 – July 30, 1930) marked the beginning of the most prestigious and widely-followed international football tournament. Hosted by Uruguay, the inaugural competition saw 13 teams, including seven from South America, four from Europe, and two from North America, vying for the title. Uruguay emerged as the first World Cup champions, which further contributed to the sport’s growing popularity.
Details:
The decision to host the first World Cup in Uruguay was made in 1929 during FIFA’s congress in Barcelona, Spain. Uruguay was chosen due to its strong football team and the nation’s celebration of its 100th anniversary of independence.
The tournament took place in three cities: Montevideo, Colonia, and Maldonado.
The Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, which hosted most of the matches, was specifically built for the event. However, the first matches were held in other stadiums due to construction delays.
The 13 participating teams were Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, France, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, the United States, Uruguay, and Yugoslavia.
No qualifying rounds took place for the 1930 World Cup. Instead, countries were invited to participate.
The tournament consisted of four groups, with the winners advancing to the semifinals.
Frenchman Lucien Laurent scored the first-ever World Cup goal in a match between France and Mexico.
The final match was held between Uruguay and Argentina on July 30, 1930. Uruguay won 4-2, becoming the first FIFA World Cup champions.
The tournament’s top scorer was Argentina’s Guillermo Stábile, who scored eight goals.
Effects on Pop Culture and Prominent People:
The success of the first FIFA World Cup paved the way for the event to become a major international sports competition held every four years.
The tournament contributed to the global spread of football as a popular sport, attracting fans from around the world.
Prominent figures from the first World Cup included Uruguay’s coach Alberto Suppici, who led the team to victory, and Argentina’s Guillermo Stábile, who emerged as the tournament’s top goal scorer.
Jules Rimet, the FIFA president then, was crucial in organizing the event and promoting international football.
The first FIFA World Cup in 1930 marked the beginning of the most prestigious international football tournament. Hosted by Uruguay, the event featured 13 teams competing for the title. Uruguay emerged as the first champions, and the competition played a significant role in popularizing football worldwide. The event also laid the foundation for the tournament’s continued success, as it is now held every four years and followed by millions of fans globally.
Al Jolson Let Me Sing and I’m Happy
This song is another written by Irving Berlin. As the new decade started, Berlin had his hand in shaping American music, especially American popular songs. Let Me Sing and I’m Happy is sort of an ode to anyone who loves to sing. People who sing in Community Theater, in choirs, and in the shower, and this song was made for them. The song was recently resurrected for the stage musical Irving Berlin’s White Christmas.
Benny Menoff and his Orchestra Happy Days Are Here Again
The song was copyrighted in 1929 by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics). The song is best remembered as the campaign song for Franklin Delano Roosevelt. It has often been called the unofficial anthem for the Democratic Party. The song would be resurrected in the early 1960s by Barbra Streisand first as a single and then on her first album. Her take on the song would make it a ballad instead of the upbeat happy, hopeful song it was originally written as. Streisand would sing the song as a duet with Judy Garland. The song would be a Garland’s Get Happy medley in counterpoint to Streisand’s Happy Days. The performance would be recreated for an episode of GLEE and song by Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel
Earl Burnett and his Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Puttin on the Ritz
This song was another hit for Berlin and is most associated with Fred Astaire. The title refers to the idea of getting dressed up to go out to someplace really nice or “swanky,” as the slang was used at the time. The Ritz was and is a very upscale hotel. The song would continue to be used. In films, it would be sung by Clark Gable in the film Idiot’s Delight. It would again be filmed in Mel Brookes’ Young Frankenstein. Puttin on the Ritz would hit the charts again in 1983 as recorded by Taco. It would be peak at # 4
Nat Shilkret Get Happy
Get Happy was composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics written by Ted Koehler. It was originally performed in the musical The Nine Fifteen Revue by Ruth Etting. The song is most associated with Judy Garland from the film Summer Stock, which co-starred Gene Kelly. In 1939, Arlen would write the music for another Judy Garland standard, Somewhere over the Rainbow.
Red Nichols Embraceable You
Written by George and Ira Gershwin for an operetta called East is West. Ginger Rogers would perform it again in the Broadway musical Girl Crazy. The song would continue to be recorded by artists like Frank Sinatra, Liberace, and Liza Minnelli. Liza’s mother, Judy Garland, performed the song in the film version of Girl Crazy.
Ruth Etting Ten Cents A Dance
Written by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, the song was published in 1930 and was first performed by Ruth Etting in the musical Simple Simon. The song is a lament sung by a woman who makes her living by dancing with strange men for money.
Ted Lewis and his Orchestra On The Sunny Side of the Street
On The Sunny Side Of The Street was composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields and introduced in the Broadway musical Lew Leslie’s International Revue, starring Harry Richman and Gertrude Lawrence. The song would be recorded many times by artists such as Willie Nelson, The Manhattan Transfer, and Rod Stewart.
Duke Ellington Three Little Words
With music by Harry Ruby and lyrics by Bert Kalmar, the song would be used again and again and eventually become the name of a movie based on the lives of the songwriting team that created it. In the middle of the 1970s, the Advertising Council used a fully orchestrated version of the song in a series of Public Service Announcements about seat belt safety; the slogan for these commercials was “Seat belts: a nice way to say ‘I Love You’.”
Paul Whiteman After You’ve Gone
Was actually written in 1918 by Turner Layton, with lyrics written by Henry Creamer and was originally recorded by Marion Harris in 1922. It would be recorded by Benny Goodman, Fats Waller and Phil Collins. It would be used by Ethel Merman in the TV show That Girl when Merman describes to Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) how she was fired from her first night club job for singing too loud.
The Dust Bowl was a severe environmental disaster that took place in the American Midwest during the Great Depression. A prolonged drought, poor agricultural practices, and economic hardship led to widespread dust storms, soil erosion, and devastation for farmers and communities.
The Dust Bowl primarily affected the Great Plains region, including parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico.
The drought began in 1930 and continued throughout the 1930s, with the worst period of dust storms occurring between 1934 and 1936
The combination of drought, high winds, and over-plowed fields led to the creation of massive dust storms, which became known as “black blizzards”
The storms caused significant damage to farmland and homes, with dust sometimes reaching as far as the East Coast and even affecting ships in the Atlantic Ocean.
During the Dust Bowl, approximately 2.5 million people were forced to leave the Great Plains, many became migrant workers or “Okies” and traveled to California for work.
The disaster prompted the US government to establish the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) in 1935, which promoted sustainable farming practices to prevent further soil erosion.
John Steinbeck’s novel “The Grapes of Wrath,” published in 1939, depicted the struggles of a family of Okies during the Dust Bowl era and became a symbol of the period.
Dorothea Lange’s iconic photograph “Migrant Mother” captured the hardship of displaced families during the Dust Bowl.
Woody Guthrie, a folk musician, wrote songs about the Dust Bowl experience, such as “Dust Bowl Refugee” and “Dust Pneumonia Blues”
The Dust Bowl’s environmental and human toll highlighted the importance of conservation and sustainable land management practices.
The Dust Bowl was a catastrophic environmental event in the American Midwest during the 1930s, with severe drought and dust storms causing widespread devastation. The disaster led to significant population displacement, influenced popular culture, and ultimately spurred the creation of conservation initiatives to protect against future ecological crises.
The 2nd Academy Awards took place on April 30, 1930.
The ceremony was hosted at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel.
William C. DeMille, older brother of the famous Cecil B. DeMille, was the host.
The eligibility year for the awards was from August 1, 1928, to July 31, 1929.
Noteworthy Moments:
The Broadway Melody won Best Picture, notable for being the first sound film to win this category.
The award categories were simplified compared to the first ceremony. For instance, there was only one acting category each for men and women.
Warner Baxter won Best Actor for his role in In Old Arizona, playing the Cisco Kid.
Trivia:
This was the first time the Academy used sealed envelopes to announce winners.
The ceremony was broadcast on radio, a significant technological advancement for the time.
The awards recognized both sound and silent films, reflecting the industry’s transition.
Mary Pickford won Best Actress for her talkie debut in Coquette, making her one of the first Hollywood “talkie” stars to win an Oscar.
Despite being a talkie, The Broadway Melody actually had no spoken dialogue, only music and sound effects.
Observation: I wonder if people got susshhh’d in the cinema when only silent movies were around?
1930 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Outstanding Picture:
The Broadway Melody – Irving Thalberg and Lawrence Weingarten for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (WINNER)
Alibi – Roland West for United Artists
The Hollywood Revue of 1929 – Irving Thalberg and Harry Rapf for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
In Old Arizona – Winfield Sheehan for Fox Film Corporation
The Patriot – Ernst Lubitsch for Paramount Pictures
Best Director:
Frank Lloyd – The Divine Lady (WINNER)
Harry Beaumont – The Broadway Melody
Frank Lloyd – Drag
Irving Cummings – In Old Arizona
Lionel Barrymore – Madame X
Ernst Lubitsch – The Patriot
Frank Lloyd – Weary River
Best Actor:
Warner Baxter – In Old Arizona as The Cisco Kid (WINNER)
George Bancroft – Thunderbolt as Thunderbolt Jim Lang
Chester Morris – Alibi as Chick Williams
Paul Muni – The Valiant as James Dyke
Lewis Stone – The Patriot as Count Pahlen
Best Actress:
Mary Pickford – Coquette as Norma Besant (WINNER)
Ruth Chatterton – Madame X as Jacqueline Floriot
Betty Compson – The Barker as Carrie
Jeanne Eagels (posthumous nomination) – The Letter as Leslie Crosbie
Corinne Griffith – The Divine Lady as Emma Hart
Bessie Love – The Broadway Melody as Harriet “Hank” Mahoney
Best Writing:
The Patriot – Hanns Kräly, based on Ashley Dukes’ translation of the play Der Patriot by Alfred Neumann, and the story “Paul I” by Dmitry Merezhkovsky (WINNER)
The Cop – Elliot Clawson
In Old Arizona – Tom Barry, based on the story “The Caballero’s Way” by O. Henry
The Last of Mrs. Cheyney – Hanns Kräly, based on the play by Frederick Lonsdale
The Leatherneck – Elliot Clawson
Our Dancing Daughters – Josephine Lovett
Sal of Singapore – Elliot Clawson, based on the story “The Sentimentalists” by Dale Collins
Skyscraper – Elliot Clawson, based on a story by Dudley Murphy
The Valiant – Tom Barry, based on the play by Halworthy Hall and Robert Middlemass
A Woman of Affairs – Bess Meredyth, based on the novel The Green Hat by Michael Arlen
Wonder of Women – Bess Meredyth, based on the novel Die Frau des Steffen Thromholt by Hermann Sudermann
Best Art Direction:
The Bridge of San Luis Rey – Cedric Gibbons (WINNER)
Alibi – William Cameron Menzies
The Awakening – William Cameron Menzies
Dynamite – Mitchell Leisen
The Patriot – Hans Dreier
Street Angel – Harry Oliver
Best Cinematography:
White Shadows in the South Seas – Clyde De Vinna (WINNER)
4 Devils – Ernest Palmer
The Divine Lady – John F. Seitz
In Old Arizona – Arthur Edeson
Our Dancing Daughters – George Barnes
Street Angel – Ernest Palmer
